Young Grenache bush vines

[Tecla]

Buon pomeriggio!

 

I’m pruning very young Grenache bush vines (one, two and three years old) and would love advice on how to choose which shoot to keep, how to form the five arms etc.

 

Grazie mille, Tecla

 

[Luca]

Hi Tecla,

When dealing with young bush vines imagine the structure as being a basket. Try to spur and make use of the canes situated on the outside of the ‘ideal basket’.

It is important to observe and manage the available space of the each vegetative point.

The bush vine training system is important in all the wine making regions, and hence why it will be covered in more detail in the expert vine pruner courses.

[Tecla]

Hello Luca,

Thank you so much for your help! I hope it’s not too detailed but the first year’s vines I have cut back to two buds (so I have a tiny, tiny plant) so that a sturdy short trunk can develop. For next year’s pruning: What would be my choices, f.e. how many shoots to keep, how long, already try to create the five arms or build first three or so?

Thank you so much for mentioning the expert vine pruner course, if it covers bush vine training, I will definitely sign up. Do you know when/which month it will be available on -line?

Thank you so much, Tecla

[Luca]

Hi Tecla,

Provided you want to create the trunk above the graft union, you can leave 2 shoots from the spur you have left. They will grow according to the combination of the plant’s vigour; soil potential; etc.

Once the shoots have grown to about 1m in length, it would be good to tip them to allow for lateral development which is useful for the following season.

The expert course will be available at the end of 2022.

[Luca]

Hi Tecla,

Just out of curiosity where are you writing from, and where are your bush vines situated?

Would be great to see a photo of the block/plantation.

[Tecla]

Hello Luca,

My sincerest apologies for the late reply but I had problems with the reply button on the vine master pruners website ( I used Safari to open the website and than the ‘reply’ button doesn’t work nor could I load notifications). I unfortunately am not in France anymore (I am now in Umbria green pruning), so have no photos to send you. If you wish, I can go through my pictures in the archive and send you some?

Have a nice day, Tecla

[Luca]

Hi Tecla,

Not a worry we are just curious to see what they look like. When you do return and manage to take some photos, we would really appreciate to see them.

Thanks